Chapter Eighteen: The Report

"Come on, Doc," Emma said impatiently "Take that off, its been two weeks already"

"How did you manage to get a woman like her with this whining, is beyond me Sheriff," Dr. Whale said looking at Regina.

"Hey, watch it," Emma said looking serious at him.

"Will you hold still?" Dr. Whale said back. "Or do you want half the line inside you?"

"Just do your job already!" Emma said back to him.

"Emma honey, the sooner you do what he's asking, the sooner we can get out of here," Regina said looking down at her.

"Fine! Hug me?" Emma asked sheepishly.

"You are such a child"

Regina said smiling wrapping her arms around Emma's shoulder to hold her still. She kissed the top of her head and Emma fell down to her, letting Regina hold her body weight. Doctor Whale removed the rest of the stitches and looked at the nearly healed hand. Then he proceeded to ask some questions to which Regina respond not even giving Emma a chance. Emma smiled every time Regina told him something about how she was. She secretly loved this. For the past two weeks, Emma didn't leave the manor. Regina took care of her. Even when she didn't need to. She tendered to all the bruises on her skin. She worked from home for a whole week because according to her drugged Emma was too dangerous to be left alone. She made her grey mushy almost every morning and Emma ate with gusto. Almost every morning. They watched movies together and Regina never said a thing about when she slept on her lap. Wich was every single time. She used the medication as an excuse, but deep down, Emma knew that wasn't it. It was the way Regina always stroked her hair. The soft touch of her fingers on her scalp always made her feel dizzy. And cozy. She tried to fight, but it was too much for her. At night, Regina would always be the big spoon when they went to sleep. Emma woke up curled up on her every morning. It was the best night of sleep she ever had in her whole life. Emma was almost sad that this was ending. She was crazy about taking that off. That thing was scratching like hell. And she also wanted to use her hands in ways that Regina forbade her to do so. At least until the stitches were removed. Doctor Whale finished his inquiry and released them. Emma jumped off the gurney and held Regina's hand between hers. She missed that. A lot. They walked out of the hospital together to the parking lot. They had gone there in Regina's cars. They entered the car and Regina drove Emma to the station. She had her first shift ever since the accident that morning. Just paperwork. From nine to five. As much as Emma hated doing paperwork it was nice to be back. Especially considering what paperwork she would have done today. She couldn't wait to fill out the miner's report. The drive to the station was fairly quicky and soon Regina was parking the car in front of the station.

"I'll come and pick you up at five," Regina said.

"You don't have to do that" Emma said "I can walk back home"

"I don't want you to overdo"

"Regina, my legs are just fine" Emma laughed.

"Fine! Call me if you need anything?" Regina asked.

"Of course" Emma leaned in and kissed her "I should go now"

"Yeah! I have to get to the stables too." Regina said looking down.

"Okay. Talk later?" Emma asked.

"Absolutely" Regina smiled at her.

Emma leaned in again and kissed Regina again before leaving the car. She walked towards the station and got scared when a horn sound with flying confetti hit her face. She looked up and saw David and a couple of others deputy standing in front of her all smiling.

"Welcome back, Sheriff," David said.

"Thank you, deputy" Emma said back.

"This is for you" He handed her a box of donuts.

"Awww. You are such a cliché"

"Why thank you," He said back "Only doing paperwork today"

"Yep! I'm pretty sure Regina would kill me if I did anything else"

"You are so whipped," He said laughing.

"Oh, looks who's talking," Emma said, "Did your wife choose that shirt today?"

"As a matter of fact, she did," David said, "She says it brings out the blue in my eyes"

"Right, okay," Emma said taking a donut from the box and putting in on the desk "I need the report from the miners in my desk."

"Oh, that already went to the Mayor's office," David said.

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked. "All the reporters must be signed by the Sheriff and I didn't sign anything."

"Yes, and in the case of the Sheriff been unavailable the reporters can be signed by the acting Sheriff"

"Wich was you"

"Yes"

"But your wife is the Mayor. That is a conflict of interests"

"It was just a report, Emma. What is the big deal? You hate doing reports anyway. Most of the time I fill them up and you just autograph"

"Most of the time we don't have the Mayor blowing off a miner and putting people's lives in danger"

"You are taking this personal, Emma"

"And you are not?"

"Look, I did my job as acting Sheriff. That's it"

"I wanna see a copy of the report"

"Of course. It's in the system"

Emma walked away from David entering her office. She turned on the computer and waited for the slow old machine to come to life. Once she logged into the system, Emma looked for the report David had filled. It had Mary Margareth words spill all over. She could actually see her standing right next to David dictating the words while he wrote. Hell, maybe she even wrote it herself. Emma was pissed. The woman would get away with it. She had put the lives of many people in danger that day and she would simply walk free. Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She should have known something like this would happen. When she opened her eyes and looked out the window, David was gone. That was probably for the best. She wasn't in her mind to deal with him right now. Emma looked to the side and took one of the files from the pile and started to work. She was so focused on what she was doing that she jumped with the sudden knock on the door.

"Hi, Ems," Rube said.

"Ruby! God, you scared me!" Emma said half laughing.

"Sorry. I knocked"

"Yeah, I know. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I came to bring you lunch"

"Oh! You didn't have to do that"

"I wanted to. To welcome you back" Ruby said placing the bag in front of her.

"Thanks, Rubs"

Emma opened the bag from Granny's and smiled. Grilled cheese and onion rings. Her favorite. Emma took the content out of the bag and ate it enjoying every bite. God blessed Regina for her kind healthy soul but this was the stuff. Rube sat down on the edge of the desk and fished an onion ring from the bag. She looked at Emma and casually said:

"You know, you shouldn't let her treat you like that?"

"What?" Emma asked with her mouth full.

"Regina. You shouldn't let her push you around"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"The other day in the diner. She ordered for you even though you wanted something else. It's not right, Emma"

"Oh my God, Ruby! She was just looking out for me"

"She's changing you, Emma" Ruby said seriously "She is bossing you, keeping you away from your friends"

"No, she isn't"

"Yes, she is. When was the last time we went out for a drink"

"I don't know"

"Exactly. She is toxic, Emma. You shouldn't be with someone like that"

"Ruby, enough!" Emma said roughly "Regina got nothing to do with us not going out for drinks anymore. At least not in the way you are insinuating"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I prefer to spend the night with my girlfriend then drinking out in a bar all night"

"Right"

"Thank you, for the food. But I need to get back to work"

"Of course. I'll see you around Ems"

Emma didn't answer her. She looked back to the computer and continued to do her job. She filled up and signed all the reporters on her desk. When the clock marked five PM, Emma put on her jacket to leave the station. David didn't return. He spent the whole day out doing rounds. Emma didn't say anything. It was better that way. She wasn't sure she would be able to act professionally after reading his report. She was really pissed at that. And the worse part was that there was nothing she could do about it. He was acting Sheriff and therefore, entitled to fill and sign the report.

Emma walked out of the station and took a big breath outside. She turned to her left and started to walk to her place. The loft she shared with Elsa. In two weeks, she had only been there to take clothes. Regina didn't want to let her go and quite frankly, Emma didn't want to come back either. She liked it there. At Regina's. She liked the way she cared for her, the way they worked together. They just fit. But Emma couldn't postpone going back anymore. Now that her hand, and body, was officially healed she had no more excuses to stay over.

When she arrived home, the first thing she did was call Regina. She smiled when she sat down on the couch and looked at her phone. Regina had texted her at five PM sharp and asked if she had left the station. Emma dialed her number and the phone only rang once before she answered. She asked how her day was and Emma told her the whole thing with David and his report. She was pissed. She called him several colorful names and Emma had to laugh wholeheartedly at the way Regina cursed. She didn't tell her about Ruby. She figured it was best to leave that behind. Regina asked if she wanted her to bring something over but Emma declined. She didn't want to give Regina any more trouble. They were only together for a few weeks now. After she promised Regina she would have a proper meal for dinner they turned off the phone. Emma walked to the kitchen and opened the frig glad to see there was a beer still inside. She had just opened the bottle when the front door swung open.

"I don't believe my eyes," Elsa said walking in.

"Hey, Els,"

"So you do still live here?"

"Yep!"

"Where is Regina?"

"Still at work."

"Oh! Are you staying here tonight?"

"Yep! Got the tiches out" Emma said showing Elsa her hand.

"Oh, that's great, Emma," Elsa said, "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good! It doesn't hurt or scratch anymore. And I can finally get it wet" Emma cheered.

"That's what you are celebrating?" Elsa asked, "Getting wet?"

"Yep! That's what I'm celebrating. In fact…" Emma said turning on the water and putting her hand under it "God, its good to do that again"

"Oh my God, how the hell Regina put up with you?"

"Why does everybody keep asking me that?"

"Who is everybody?"

"Whale. That asshole"

Elsa laughed and went to the fridge to make something to eat. She fixed herself and Emma a turkey sandwich that they ate in front of the tv. She texted Regina the whole time during the movie they were watching. When Emma went to bed she turned from one side to the other trying to get a good position sleep. Nothing worked. Two weeks she spent at Regina and now she couldn't sleep without her. The bed felt strange. Like her brain and body didn't recognize it anymore. She missed something. Or better, someone. Emma laid on her back looking up the ceiling. What would Regina think if she just shows up there? Was she sleeping already? Was she turning from one side to the other in bed too? Could she sleep without Emma spooning her? Emma grabbed her phone from the bedside table and looked at the hour. It was two in the morning. She had to be at work at eight. Emma closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She thought about a beautiful brunette with brown eyes smiling at her. Emma focused on the image and soon sleep took her over to a land of Reginas.